Minie Sizing?

[frontrank2]

I'm re-enactor since 1988 and an N-SSA shooter. If I could make a suggestion. My re-enacting muskets are different from my shooters. I would not feel comfortable using a shooter during a re-enactment. A broken minie ball skirt could be lodged down the barrel and might break free at the worst possible moment. For my N-SSA competitions, I shoot a 2 band Zouave made by the old Navy Arms Co. Two banders are perfectly legal in the N-SSA and I find the loading a little bit quicker. I would also suggest you use plastic quick loading tubes instead of paper. You just measure the powder in them and seat the minie on top, nose pointed down. Then when you are ready to load, grab the minie with your teeth and dump the powder down the barrel. Then place the minie into the muzzle with the nose of it facing up and ram it home. The plastic tube is reusable. Available from Lodgewood MFG. Also pick up a push through sizing die ( get your muzzle micrometered first ) and clamp it in a vice so you can properly size your minies, also available from Lodgewood.
http://www.lodgewood.com/Cartridge-Cases_c_8.html

 

[ResearchPress]

..... My goal is to maintain combat accuracy on a human sized target out to 300 yards while simultaneously being able to fire a number of rounds before having to swab the bore. This is how the originals performed, and how I'd like mine to perform as well..... are the short barrel Enfield 1861 musketoons with 24" barrels significantly handicapped against the long 3 band rifles at range?

Here in the UK we shoot Enfield rifles out to 800 yards. Even at the shorter ranges, 200 - 300 yards, carbines don't feature. I don't shoot a carbine so will leave it to others with experience of them to comment on their performance. Our match course of fire varies some are 10, and some 15 shots, plus sighting shots. I don't clean until after shooting. The most widely used are the Enfield Short Rifles (two banders), original and repro., although some three band Enfields are used.

You may find the following article of assistance: Managing the Enfield

David